DOCSLIB.ORG

INTRODUCTION This Was the Second Leg in a Month-Long

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
INTRODUCTION This Was the Second Leg in a Month-Long INTRODUCTION This was the second leg in a month-long trip to the South Pacific & Australia with my wife, Louise; visiting New Caledonia (1 week) and Fiji (2 weeks), before spending a week taking things slightly easier in the Blue Mountains, east of Sydney on our way home. This report covers the Fiji leg; reports of our other two destinations can be found at www.cloudbirders.com. Fiji is an archipelago comprising 330 islands, though only 3 of main inhabited islands need to be visited to see the majority of the country’s very special birds. The species list is not particularly long – we saw just over 60 species in 2 weeks, but there are several examples of inter-island sub-speciation (Fiji Whistler, for example, has very different looking variants between the islands) that add further interest. Cyclone Winston in 2016 had a devastating effect on the islands and, whilst we saw very little impact on the infrastructure during our visit, the effect on habitat was glaringly obvious in places, with large swathes of forest snapped and broken, as we observed on the hillside immediately behind our lodge on Kadavu (pronounced “Kan-darvu” – all Fijian words with a “d” are pronounced with a preceding “n”). Bobby’s Farm on Taveuni, renowned as the best place to see Orange Dove and a good site for Silktail, was particularly hard-hit and, at least for now, is no longer worth visiting for birds, according to locals. Despite this, we managed to see all species expected on our itinerary and only used local guides for single days on Taveuni and Viti Levu to help with the trickier ones. The Fijian people are exceptionally warm and welcoming and almost everyone you meet, even passers-by, will greet you with a broad smile and “Bula” (literally “life”, but commonly used as “Hello”). There is a laid- back feel to the place and you soon get used to things happening at their own pace – “Fiji-time” in the local vernacular - and the ironic title of Fiji Airways in-flight magazine, though we were pleased to find that aviation generally ran to a tighter schedule (at least for us; more on that later…). PLANNING With lots of island-hopping required for our itinerary, we entrusted the services of Sicklebill Safaris (http://new.s2travel.com.au/pages/contact/) to make sense of the complicated flight schedules to arrange as efficient an itinerary as possible. Run by Phil & Sue Gregory, they probably know the South Pacific better than anyone, and the arrangements ended up running generally very smoothly (for that part of the world…) and enabled us to see all our expected target species without too much effort. ITINERARY Aug 24th 2018 Arrive Nadi (pronounced “Nan-dee”), Fiji from Noumea, New Caledonia (Air Caledonie, 1300-1550). Overnight at Fiji Gateway Hotel (https://www.fijigateway.com/). Aug 25th 2018 Fly Nadi – Taveuni. (Fiji Airways, 0700-0825). Birding along road to north & south of hotel. Overnight Garden Island Resort (https://www.gardenislandresort.com/). Very comfortable, with excellent food and very helpful and attentive staff. Aug 26th 2018 All day birding up the track to Des Veoux Peak with local guide Boro (Tel +679 9684170) and rental 4WD arranged through reception desk at hotel. Overnight Garden Island Resort. Aug 27th 2018 Exploring north end of island in rental vehicle. Birded Qeleni Road in morning. In afternoon, arranged a short boat trip through local dive shop into Somosomo Strait for close views of boobies and dolphins. Aug 28th 2018 Pre-breakfast birding along road north of hotel. Flight to Nadi (Fiji Airways,0850-1015), connecting to Suva (Fiji Airways, 1100-1145). Afternoon birding around lodge and near the Colo-i-Suva Park rangers’ office. Overnight Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco Lodge (https://www.coloisuva.com.fj/). Rooms fairly basic, but comfortable; good food and great birding on site & nearby. Aug 29th 2018 Birding Colo-i-Suva Park (Big Dakua Trail to Lower Pools returning via Waisila Falls Trail). Late pm, taxi to Suva to collect rental car from Budget. Overnight Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco Lodge. Aug 30th 2018 Early departure for 2.5 hour drive to Monasavu, accompanied by local guide Vido (pronounced Vindo; tel +679 8642242) and his wife, Ma’. Overnight Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco Lodge. Aug 31st 2018 Morning birding Pipeline Road. Returned to Suva to drop off car in afternoon. Overnight Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco Lodge. Sept 1st 2018 Morning birding main entrance road in Colo-i-Suva Park. Afternoon walk from lodge to Pipeline Road junction via Colo-i-Suva village. Overnight Colo-i-Suva Rainforest Eco Lodge. Sept 2nd 2018 Early morning flight to Nadi (Fiji Airways, 0615-0645), then flight to Kadavu (Fiji Airways, 1045-1135). Boat transfer to Matana Beach Resort (http://matanabeachresort.com/); rather run down, but now under new management with comfortable and good homely food. Afternoon birding cyclone-ravaged hillside behind resort. Sept 3rd 2018 Boat trip to Ono Island for snorkelling with Manta Rays. Overnight Matana Beach Resort. Sept 4th 2018 Boat transfer to Vunisea to meet driver to take us along the Vunisea – Namara road. Birded road all morning. Afternoon relaxing. Overnight Matana Beach Resort. Sept 5th 2018 Retuned to Vunisea – Namara road, getting a lift to previous day’s Whistling Dove spot & walking back to town. Afternoon relaxing. Overnight Matana Beach Resort. Sept 6th 2018 Birded hillside behind resort for a couple of hours early morning. Rest of day relaxing. Overnight Matana Beach Resort. Sept 7th 2018 Relaxing morning before transfer to airport for flight to Nadi (Fiji Airways, 1205-1255). Onward flight to Sydney (Fiji Airways, 1830-2125). WEATHER Having left the unbearable summer of the UAE behind, the weather was typically a pleasant 25-30C, with the occasional hotter day. We experienced generally good, sunny weather, though our days on Taveuni were cloudy, with persistent heavy drizzle & rain on Des Veoux Peak. We had one rain shower at Suva and heavy overnight rain on our last night on Kadavu, with low cloud and showers on our final morning before departure. GETTING AROUND Fiji Airways’ island-hopping network of small planes is easy and efficient, with most flights departing and arriving via Nadi. Most of the less popular and off-peak flights are serviced by Twin Otter aircraft seating 19 passengers only. Luggage and passengers are weighed at check-in to optimise weigh distribution within the plane – slightly discomforting for those sensitive about their body weight. There is a 15kg limit on checked baggage which does not appear to be strictly enforced – we had 18kg each and were only asked once to pay excess baggage – on our sixth and final flight, although my objections eventually led to it being waived. Despite flights running to schedule for us, weather conditions must inevitably have an impact on such aircraft being able to fly. Our departure from Kadavu on our last (rainy) morning was almost cancelled when the incoming flight nearly had to turn around and return to Nadi. Fortunately, a brief break in the clouds allowed the pilot to descend below the cloudbase for landing – otherwise we would probably have missed our onward international flight. With hindsight, it would be wise to allow a day in Nadi at the end of the trip as a buffer against cancellations, especially if visiting during the wetter months. It is also advisable to reconfirm flight schedules before leaving home, especially if the flights have been booked many months in advance. Whilst we had no issues (our flights were only booked a couple of months ahead), two couples in our lodge both suffered schedule changes. One couple misread a mail notifying them of a date change – and only realised the evening before they thought they were due to fly - three days after their rescheduled flight had departed! They were extremely lucky that the twice-weekly ferry between Kadavu and Viti Levu was departing the following day, allowing them to reach Suva in 9 hours, followed by a 4 hour drive to Nadi, just in time for their onward international flight. Following this episode, the other couple wisely decided to reconfirm their flights for the next day, only to discover that it had been cancelled and they would have to spend another night in the resort. We, on the other hand, just turned up and hoped… In most cases, we did not need to venture very far from our bases on each island, so hotel transfers via taxi or shuttle bus were all that was required. On Taveuni, we rented a beat-up 4WD to drive up the eroded track to Des Veoux. The rental arrangements were rather informal – basically cash in hand to the owner; no paperwork, no hassle, and no clutch… Arrangements were more formal on Viti Levu (car necessary for the long and very bumpy drive to Monasavu for Long-legged Thicketbird), though the vehicle quality no better – this time a clutch, but no suspension! Road quality varied widely; main arteries were generally well surfaced, but quality rapidly deteriorated the further you went from them – most inland roads were gravel/dirt; fine (if bone-shaking) when dry, possibly lethal in the wet. Navigation was easy with a free GPS app on my phone, preloaded with a map of Fiji before we left home. We used Sygic (https://www.sygic.com/gps-navigation), which allows unlimited map downloads and doesn’t require data, merely the phone’s GPS connection. MAIN SITES VISITED 1. TAVEUNI The easternmost island, a 90 minute flight from Nadi and bisected by the 180 meridian – exactly on the other side of the world to the UK.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • TRUSTVETASSISTSSURVIVAL of WORLD'srarestparrot New Clues to Echo Parakeet Problem Bypallia Harris
    News about parrot conservation, aviculture and welfare from qg&%rld q&rrot~t TRUSTVETASSISTSSURVIVAL OF WORLD'SRARESTPARROT New clues to Echo Parakeet problem ByPallIa Harris When the World Parrot Trust was The World Parrot Trust has project, contributing funds and of the World Parrot Trust and a launched in 1989, our first consistently provided funding for parrot expertise to both the member of the International Zoo priority was to help the world's the Echo Parakeet and maintained captive breeding programme and Veterinary Group. When the rarest parrot, the Echo Parakeet, close relations with the project's wild population management captive population of parrots which still numbers less than 20 director, Carl Jones, and the efforts. This new opportunity became ill this spring, Andrew birds in the wild. With your Jersey Wildlife Preservation provides the World Parrot Trust advised project staff in Mauritius generous donations, the Trust Trust, which finances and with one of the greatest by telephone and by fax. was proud to present the Echo manages the project with the co- challenges in parrot conservation Subsequently, at the request of Parakeet project with a badly operation of the Mauritius today. the Jersey Wildlife Preservation needed four wheel drive vehicle government's Conservation Unit. The followingstory is drawn, Trust, the World Parrot Trust sent to enable field researchers to Recently, the World Parrot Trust in part, from a veterinary report Andrew to Mauritius to reach the remote forest in which was invited to become a major by Andrew Greenwood,MAVetMB investigate tragic mortalities the parrot struggles to survive. partner in the Echo Parakeet MIBiolMRCVS,a founder Trustee among the Echo Parakeets.
    [Show full text]
  • YELLOW CRAZY ANTS in the WET TROPICS Australia Has a Small Window of Opportunity to Keep the Wet Tropics Safe from Yellow Crazy Ants
    ECOLOGICA TOO MUCH TO LOSE YELLOW CRAZY ANTS IN THE WET TROPICS Australia has a small window of opportunity to keep the Wet Tropics safe from yellow crazy ants. Lori Lach and Conrad Hoskin consider the potential costs of failure. Photos: David Wilson ustralia’s Wet Tropics rainforests pulse with life. Butterflies A versatile ant flit, spiders attend their glistening webs, skinks dart into Yellow crazy ants are one of the world’s worst invaders. So widely Athe leaf litter, insects of myriad sizes and colours scurry. have they spread, their origins are not clear. They probably came Quiet observation may be rewarded with a frog camouflaged in from Asian rainforests, travelling across the tropics with trade. leaves or a praying mantis stalking prey. In many places they reach extraordinary densities, as high as 20 Now picture walking into a rainforest invaded by yellow crazy million per hectare on Christmas Island. ants. The ground and tree trunks still teem with life, but of just Several traits contribute to their success. They’re omnivorous one species. The diversity seen is mainly in the prey carried by and aggressive, readily spraying formic acid from their abdomen ants – spiders, beetles, earthworms, other ants. If an animal is when on the attack. And, apart from some aversion to strong too heavy, the ants eat it in place, seeking out moist tissues such sunlight and low temperatures, they’ll forage day and night, on as eyes to begin their formic acid assault. Quiet observation is the ground and in the canopy. nigh impossible because standing in one place too long will Their nesting habits are also versatile.
    [Show full text]
  • TAG Operational Structure
    PARROT TAXON ADVISORY GROUP (TAG) Regional Collection Plan 5th Edition 2020-2025 Sustainability of Parrot Populations in AZA Facilities ...................................................................... 1 Mission/Objectives/Strategies......................................................................................................... 2 TAG Operational Structure .............................................................................................................. 3 Steering Committee .................................................................................................................... 3 TAG Advisors ............................................................................................................................... 4 SSP Coordinators ......................................................................................................................... 5 Hot Topics: TAG Recommendations ................................................................................................ 8 Parrots as Ambassador Animals .................................................................................................. 9 Interactive Aviaries Housing Psittaciformes .............................................................................. 10 Private Aviculture ...................................................................................................................... 13 Communication ........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Kilaka Forest
    Kilaka Forest Conservation Area Management Plan Copyright: © 2016 Wildlife Conservation Society Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided that the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited withoutprior written consent of the copyright owner. Citation: WCS (2016) Kilaka Forest Conservation Area Management Plan. Wildlife Conservation Society, Suva, Fiji. 34 pp. Photograph (front cover): ©Ruci Lumelume/WCS Graphic design & Layout: cChange NOTE: This management plan may be amended from time to time. To obtain a copy of the current management plan, please contact: Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji Country Program 11 Ma’afu Street Suva Republic of Fiji Islands Telephone: +679 331 5174 Email: [email protected] Kilaka Forest Conservation Area Management Committee Kilaka Village Kubulau District Bua Province Republic of Fiji Kubulau Resource Management Committee Kubulau District Bua Province Republic of Fiji ENDORSEMENT On this day, 24 November, 2016 at Kilaka Village in the district of Kubulau, Bua Province, Vanua Levu in the Republic of Fiji Islands, we the undersigned endorse this management plan and its implementation. We urge the people of all communities in Kubulau and key stakeholders from government, private and non-government sectors to observe the plan and make every effort to ensure effective implementation. Minister, Ministry of Forests Tui
    [Show full text]
  • Articles Migration for the Second Time
    ffi- ct1 E o r+ |+ c = I - s) 2 gq F Fl c) U| CD (D I |a - o O v, - o :a rt I c) o O- o J $iFgiFFgEst = 3 ,B.3FH.F=E*gs (D .+ !l CD 0f $E;rtf;F$Fs = o o s, - - I g3rF*gggiss - J CD r+ *cE$;'gE$5 hs F$HEF F3s F E 0r { o o !, $FEggggg$FE= - ig"$;e*Erq gE iEi $alcUil Ha ;E€ 3SFg*g $E .8I" :EF" 5;H !g *il9g;T 'dF$FEH ?f r $; flFg EF TE =6 ig FE EF gggggigggg Frz =r B6 5fi e69,8, I birdlife.org http://w w w .birdlife.org/community/2011/05/keeping-islands-rat-free-for-pacific-birds-and-people-%e2%80%93-w ith-elenoa-seniloli/ Keeping islands rat-free for pacific birds and people – with Elenoa Seniloli Elenoa Seniloli is a Conservation Officer in the BirdLife International Fiji Programme. “Lying in my tent at night, I could hear rat-traps snapping shut all around me”, said Elenoa Seniloli – Conservation Officer BirdLife International Fiji Programme. Many Pacific islands are alive with rats which are thriving on seabird eggs and chicks, driving many species towards extinction. BirdLife in the Pacific is undertaking a ground-breaking programme with local communities to rid the islands of these invasive predators for the benefit of birds, biodiversity and people. The Pacific region spreads over more than 38 million square kilometres of ocean – an area three times larger than mainland China or the United States of America. Less than 2% of this vast region is dry land; land holding a rather sobering biodiversity record.
    [Show full text]
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii
    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Management and Breeding of Birds of Paradise (Family Paradisaeidae) at the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation
    Management and breeding of Birds of Paradise (family Paradisaeidae) at the Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation. By Richard Switzer Bird Curator, Al Wabra Wildlife Preservation. Presentation for Aviary Congress Singapore, November 2008 Introduction to Birds of Paradise in the Wild Taxonomy The family Paradisaeidae is in the order Passeriformes. In the past decade since the publication of Frith and Beehler (1998), the taxonomy of the family Paradisaeidae has been re-evaluated considerably. Frith and Beehler (1998) listed 42 species in 17 genera. However, the monotypic genus Macgregoria (MacGregor’s Bird of Paradise) has been re-classified in the family Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters). Similarly, 3 species in 2 genera (Cnemophilus and Loboparadisea) – formerly described as the “Wide-gaped Birds of Paradise” – have been re-classified as members of the family Melanocharitidae (Berrypeckers and Longbills) (Cracraft and Feinstein 2000). Additionally the two genera of Sicklebills (Epimachus and Drepanornis) are now considered to be combined as the one genus Epimachus. These changes reduce the total number of genera in the family Paradisaeidae to 13. However, despite the elimination of the 4 species mentioned above, 3 species have been newly described – Berlepsch's Parotia (P. berlepschi), Eastern or Helen’s Parotia (P. helenae) and the Eastern or Growling Riflebird (P. intercedens). The Berlepsch’s Parotia was once considered to be a subspecies of the Carola's Parotia. It was previously known only from four female specimens, discovered in 1985. It was rediscovered during a Conservation International expedition in 2005 and was photographed for the first time. The Eastern Parotia, also known as Helena's Parotia, is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of Lawes's Parotia, but differs in the male’s frontal crest and the female's dorsal plumage colours.
    [Show full text]
  • Multi-National Conservation of Alligator Lizards
    MULTI-NATIONAL CONSERVATION OF ALLIGATOR LIZARDS: APPLIED SOCIOECOLOGICAL LESSONS FROM A FLAGSHIP GROUP by ADAM G. CLAUSE (Under the Direction of John Maerz) ABSTRACT The Anthropocene is defined by unprecedented human influence on the biosphere. Integrative conservation recognizes this inextricable coupling of human and natural systems, and mobilizes multiple epistemologies to seek equitable, enduring solutions to complex socioecological issues. Although a central motivation of global conservation practice is to protect at-risk species, such organisms may be the subject of competing social perspectives that can impede robust interventions. Furthermore, imperiled species are often chronically understudied, which prevents the immediate application of data-driven quantitative modeling approaches in conservation decision making. Instead, real-world management goals are regularly prioritized on the basis of expert opinion. Here, I explore how an organismal natural history perspective, when grounded in a critique of established human judgements, can help resolve socioecological conflicts and contextualize perceived threats related to threatened species conservation and policy development. To achieve this, I leverage a multi-national system anchored by a diverse, enigmatic, and often endangered New World clade: alligator lizards. Using a threat analysis and status assessment, I show that one recent petition to list a California alligator lizard, Elgaria panamintina, under the US Endangered Species Act often contradicts the best available science.
    [Show full text]
  • Southwest Pacific Islands: Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu & New Caledonia Trip Report 11Th to 31St July 2015
    Southwest Pacific Islands: Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu & New Caledonia Trip Report 11th to 31st July 2015 Orange Fruit Dove by K. David Bishop Trip Report - RBT Southwest Pacific Islands 2015 2 Tour Leaders: K. David Bishop and David Hoddinott Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader: K. David Bishop Tour Summary Rockjumper’s inaugural tour of the islands of the Southwest Pacific kicked off in style with dinner at the Stamford Airport Hotel in Sydney, Australia. The following morning we were soon winging our way north and eastwards to the ancient Gondwanaland of New Caledonia. Upon arrival we then drove south along a road more reminiscent of Europe, passing through lush farmlands seemingly devoid of indigenous birds. Happily this was soon rectified; after settling into our Noumea hotel and a delicious luncheon, we set off to explore a small nature reserve established around an important patch of scrub and mangroves. Here we quickly cottoned on to our first endemic, the rather underwhelming Grey-eared Honeyeater, together with Nankeen Night Herons, a migrant Sacred Kingfisher, White-bellied Woodswallow, Fantailed Gerygone and the resident form of Rufous Whistler. As we were to discover throughout this tour, in areas of less than pristine habitat we encountered several Grey-eared Honeyeater by David Hoddinott introduced species including Common Waxbill. And so began a series of early starts which were to typify this tour, though today everyone was up with added alacrity as we were heading to the globally important Rivierre Bleu Reserve and the haunt of the incomparable Kagu. We drove 1.3 hours to the reserve, passing through a stark landscape before arriving at the appointed time to meet my friend Jean-Marc, the reserve’s ornithologist and senior ranger.
    [Show full text]
  • Endemic Species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean D.J
    RECORDS OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM 34 055–114 (2019) DOI: 10.18195/issn.0312-3162.34(2).2019.055-114 Endemic species of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean D.J. James1, P.T. Green2, W.F. Humphreys3,4 and J.C.Z. Woinarski5 1 73 Pozieres Ave, Milperra, New South Wales 2214, Australia. 2 Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3083, Australia. 3 Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986, Australia. 4 School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. 5 NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory 0909, Australia, Corresponding author: [email protected] ABSTRACT – Many oceanic islands have high levels of endemism, but also high rates of extinction, such that island species constitute a markedly disproportionate share of the world’s extinctions. One important foundation for the conservation of biodiversity on islands is an inventory of endemic species. In the absence of a comprehensive inventory, conservation effort often defaults to a focus on the better-known and more conspicuous species (typically mammals and birds). Although this component of island biota often needs such conservation attention, such focus may mean that less conspicuous endemic species (especially invertebrates) are neglected and suffer high rates of loss. In this paper, we review the available literature and online resources to compile a list of endemic species that is as comprehensive as possible for the 137 km2 oceanic Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the north-eastern Indian Ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • ABSTRACT BOOK Listed Alphabetically by Last Name Of
    ABSTRACT BOOK Listed alphabetically by last name of presenting author AOS 2019 Meeting 24-28 June 2019 ORAL PRESENTATIONS Variability in the Use of Acoustic Space Between propensity, renesting intervals, and renest reproductive Two Tropical Forest Bird Communities success of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) by fol- lowing 1,922 nests and 1,785 unique breeding adults Patrick J Hart, Kristina L Paxton, Grace Tredinnick from 2014 2016 in North and South Dakota, USA. The apparent renesting rate was 20%. Renesting propen- When acoustic signals sent from individuals overlap sity declined if reproductive attempts failed during the in frequency or time, acoustic interference and signal brood-rearing stage, nests were depredated, reproduc- masking occurs, which may reduce the receiver’s abil- tive failure occurred later in the breeding season, or ity to discriminate information from the signal. Under individuals had previously renested that year. Addi- the acoustic niche hypothesis (ANH), acoustic space is tionally, plovers were less likely to renest on reservoirs a resource that organisms may compete for, and sig- compared to other habitats. Renesting intervals de- naling behavior has evolved to minimize overlap with clined when individuals had not already renested, were heterospecific calling individuals. Because tropical after second-year adults without prior breeding experi- wet forests have such high bird species diversity and ence, and moved short distances between nest attempts. abundance, and thus high potential for competition for Renesting intervals also decreased if the attempt failed acoustic niche space, they are good places to examine later in the season. Lastly, overall reproductive success the way acoustic space is partitioned.
    [Show full text]
  • Birding Tour New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa August
    BIRDING TOUR NEW CALEDONIA, FIJI, AND SAMOA 2022 (by request) 2023 (TBA) Kagu is one of the key species we search for on this trip. www.birdingecotours.com [email protected] 2 | ITINERARY Birding Tour New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa Our Birding Tour New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa starts in Nouméa, New Caledonia, and concludes in Apia, Samoa. The tour duration is 19 days. Please note that the tour dates are merely indicative because the local flight schedules are only released at quite a late stage, and this often changes the itinerary a little. Tour Summary New Caledonia (6 days) New Caledonia is an ancient archipelago of Gondwanan origin. Most of the islands are covered in tropical evergreen forest at higher elevations, while savanna and maquis dominate the lower elevations. Most famous for being the home of the unique Kagu, they host a total of 20 island endemics as well as about a dozen additional Melanesian endemics. The strict island endemics include White-bellied Goshawk, Kagu, Cloven-feathered Dove, Goliath Imperial Pigeon, Horned Parakeet, New Caledonian Parakeet, New Caledonian Myzomela, Barred Honeyeater, Crow Honeyeater, New Caledonian Friarbird, New Caledonian Whistler, New Caledonian Crow, Yellow-bellied Flyrobin, New Caledonian Thicketbird, Large Lifou White-eye, Small Lifou White-eye, Green-backed White-eye, Striated Starling, and Red- throated Parrotfinch. New Caledonian Friarbird — one of the many New Caledonian endemics we will be targeting. www.birdingecotours.com [email protected] 3 | ITINERARY Birding Tour New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa We will spend time in the following areas: Parc Provincial de la Rivière Bleue, Mont Koghi, and the Farino area.
    [Show full text]